Trulia’s chief economist is the latest to depart the company in the wake of the portal’s acquisition by Zillow, but says his research team will continue to produce housing reports “that will be different from Zillow’s and sometimes will kick their butts.”

Jed Kolko

“From day one, Trulia’s leaders have encouraged me and the rest of the Trends team to call it like we see it and run as fast we can,” Jed Kolko said in an email announcing his departure from a job he’s held for 3 1/2 years.

He called the decision to leave “a tough one, especially now that we are part of a company I’ve long admired, but made easier for me by the understanding and support of both the Zillow and Trulia leadership.”

Zillow has its own economist, Stan Humphries, who just published a best-selling book with Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff.